It might be hard to imagine it now but less than 18 months ago Jack Colback was an integral part of Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United side as the Spaniard tried to save the Magpies from the drop into the Championship.

Colback played eight of the 10 games Benitez oversaw during the 2015/16 campaign - seven of those for a full 90 minutes – and only missed the other two due to suspension. The following season he turned out 29 times but his career under Benitez had arguably peaked in what was only the Spaniard’s seventh game in charge - a 2-2 draw at Anfield in April 2016. This was Benitez’s first trip back to Anfield since a 2-2 draw as manager of Chelsea.

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But he was back in the dugout, and as Magpies manager. It was what we have come to expect from Newcastle under Benitez - although they were punished for a lack of quality they were rescued by spirit and fight. The Magpies were 2-0 down within half-an-hour after goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana. There were no shots on goal from the black and whites and Liverpool barely broke sweat as the half-time whistle went.

Benitez told his side at the interval they had “nothing to lose” and, after the half-time break, the Magpies were like a different team. Papiss Cisse grabbed a goal three minutes after the break and Colback snatched equaliser on 66 minutes after Dejan Lovren failed to clear his lines.

Colback was praised for his work rate and effort. My ChronicleLive colleague Chris Waugh wrote “he put in a massive shift in the middle for Magpies”, giving him a man of the match mark of eight.

It was the first away point of 2016 and suggested that United might have enough to beat the drop. Of course it was not to be and for Colback it was arguably the beginning of the end for his Newcastle career.

Saturday won’t be an easy game by any stretch - Liverpool have not lost a league game at Anfield to Newcastle since 1994 when Rob Lee and Andy Cole grabbed the goals. They’ve gone on to win 17 of the 21 games since, drawing the other four. Furthermore, Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle than they have against any other side in the competition (89) and have netted in their last 21 home games against the Magpies.

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Heading to Anfield has the added emotional draw for Benitez having been manager there for six years. After the 2016 clash he said: “It’s very emotional. The fans, the city, the club - I have a very good relationship with Liverpool obviously. My family still live here. It was emotional because the Liverpool fans were singing my name and afterwards the Newcastle fans were singing my name so really pleased to have this reaction and really pleased to get a point against a very good team.”

It’ll be no different this time around. But the fight and spirit shown in the second half of that April 2016 game is not too far from what Benitez’s current-day squad have in abundance. We saw it in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool earlier this season at St James’ Park and more recently against Manchester United as the Magpies won 1-0. And Benitez will be hoping that fight and spirit can get the Magpies three points on Saturday.